Press Releases

2016

JOHNSTOWN, PA -- With the setting of the sun and the celebration of Forgiveness Vespers this evening, the season of The Great Fast has been ushered in throughout our God-Saved Diocese and the Orthodox Church throughout the world.
This Holy Season, as His Grace, Bishop Gregory has reminded us in his Lenten Archpastoral Letter "is a time for self-examination and self-denial. We must take control of our lives and bodies with fasting in order to gain a greater awareness of our dependence on and relationship with God."
To assist the faithful in making the most of this holy season, additional resources have been added to our Diocesan Website. Read more...

JOHNSTOWN, PA -- It does not seem possible that five years has passed since the Repose in the Lord of our God Loving +Metropolitan Nicholas of Thrice-Blessed Memory. There is not a one of us, who does not recall where we were or what we were doing when we learned that His Eminence Fell-Asleep-In-The Lord at 3:00 pm on Sunday March 13, 2011. Read more...

As we begin Holy and Great Lent this year on March 14th, I want to share with you a few thoughts so that we may journey through this reflective period and arrive at the Great Feast of Feasts, Pascha to receive the Resurrected Christ.

We are reminded that there can be no true fast, no genuine repentance, no reconciliation with God, unless we at the same time reconcile with one another. In this holiest period of the ecclesiastical year, we should honestly examine our relationships with our families, our parish families, friends, neighbors, co-workers, and the Church in general. Read more...

JOHNSTOWN, PA [National ACRY] The National Sr. ACRY is pleased to announce that the 2015 Advent Mission Project has raised over $20,000 in support of the Fr. Michael Rosco Memorial, Habitat for Humanity building project. These funds include a generous $5000 grant from the Kulis Foundation. With the proceeds of the Advent Mission Project, the grand total raised for this worthy cause as of today, is over $32,000.00! Also seven members of our Diocesan family have agreed to serve on a construction team, thus far.

This memorial building project is being spearheaded by the faithful of Fr. Michael’s former parish, St. John the Baptist Orthodox Church of Perth Amboy, NJ, in conjunction with International Orthodox Christian Charities (IOCC). Plans call for a home to be built in the Summer of 2016 for a deserving family in Mandeville, LA Read more...

JOHNSTOWN, PA - His Grace Bishop Gregory and the Diocesan Chancery Staff offer their sincere condolences to Very Rev. Fr. Andrew Fetchina on the repose of his father +Basil Fetchina on Tuesday, March 8, 2016.
Born in Saint Clair, PA to the late Simeon and Anastasia Chaplick Fetchina, he resided in Jackson for the past 15 years. Prior to his retirement, he was a salesman for Bell & Howell in Washington, DC.
He served in the Navy Reserves before being transferred to the Army, where he served during the Korean War. He was a member of St. Alexander Nevsky Russian Orthodox Cathedral, Howell. Read more...

JOHNSTOWN, PA [Diocesan Chancery] -- His Grace, Bishop Gregory was the featured speaker at the first "Orthodoxy on Tap" sponsored by the Pittsburgh Orthodox Young Adults (POYA) on Sunday evening, March 6 at the Sharp Edge Beer Emporium. "Orthodoxy on Tap" is a national program in which the Church seeks to engage its young adults in a venue outside of the church building where young people typically gather: usually an upscale pub or restaurant. Along with appetizers and beverages, the feature is a talk and discussion by a bishop, priest or theologian on a topic of concern to the young adults. Read more...

PARMA, OHIO [Zoe For Life] -- Friday, March 4th, 2016 is a day that we will cherish to our last breath! Five jewels in the crown of Orthodoxy came together at ZOE House. They came in spiritual unity to bless ZOE House, and the work and volunteers of ZOE for Life! Metropolitan Savas of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, Metropolis of Pittsburgh, Bishop Daniel of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA, Bishop Gregory of the American Carpatho­-Russian Orthodox Diocese of the USA, Archbishop Nathaniel of the Orthodox Church in America, Romanian Orthodox Episcopate, and Bishop Paul Orthodox Church in America Diocese of Chicago, met with local clergy in brotherly affection to rejoice with us in our new home. Read more...

JOHNSTOWN, PA - Our Diocese is pleased to announce its fourth annual Family Camp at Camp Nazareth this year in conjunction with Family Day. The event is exactly what it sounds like. Families “camping” together in the Camp cabins and participating in a weekend of services, games, discussions, activities and challenges that are all designed to help families deepen their relationship with God and with one another.

This year’s them – “Not letting Orthodoxy be your Family’s Secret Identity”. Our Family’s Orthodoxy is both Public and Private…sometimes our family has to be like Superman and sometimes like Clark Kent!!

Family Camp is scheduled for Friday, June 3 – Sunday, June 5, 2016. Read more...

JOHNSTOWN, PA - The Chancery has been notified of the repose in the Lord of Deacon Robert Kuchta on Saturday Morning, March 5, 2016. Deacon Kuchta studied in the Diocesan Diaconate Program from 2004-2007, and was ordained by Metropolitan Nicholas. He was assigned and served in St. Michael Church in St. Clair, PA until 2013. At that time he moved to York, PA when he was canonically transferred to the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Pittsburgh, as there was no Carpatho-Russian Church nearby. He had been serving since then at Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church in York, PA.

Diocesan faithful and clergy may pay their respects at St. Michael Church in St. Clair, PA on Tuesday, March 8 from 9 to 10:30 AM. The Funeral Service will be celebrated by his priest, Fr. Andrew Tsikitas and Fr. Jeff Zias, the pastor of St. Michael's Church. Diocesan clergy are invited to participate. Interment with Military Honors will be in Holy Ascension Orthodox Cemetery, Englewood/Frackville, PA. Read more...

CLEVELAND HEIGHTS, Ohio (LifeSiteNews) – Five Orthodox Christian bishops will bless the new ZOE House for helping pregnant women, at 5454 State Road, on Friday, March 4.

ZOE House is a ministry of Zoe for Life, an Orthodox Christian initiative to help women who need confidential emotional and spiritual support during crisis pregnancies; to assist Orthodox Christians seeking to adopt; and to provide an education, resources, and retreats "for Pure Living." The pro-life organization offers medical assistance, housing, clothing, prenatal care, referrals for counseling, adoption help, and emotional and spiritual support to women. Read more...